Page 28 of The Alpha Option
Blue gave a low whistle. “That’s one way to find out.”
“Got my heart pumping, I can tell you that much,” Cassidy agreed.
Stephanie joined in. “We did as much research as we could, but Colt’s daddy had no family we knew of. So, the three of us figured it out as we went along. Colt’s a great kid, and he’s got really good—what would you call it? Control? Stacy was a little worried that heading off to school would be a problem, but he’s never once shifted when he’s away from home.”
“That’s impressive,” Jace agreed. He lifted his chin toward Blue. “I wonder if he’s got any of your tricks up his sleeve.”
“Possible. Poor kid, though. It’s hard to grow up outside a pack. Wolves do better when they’ve got others around.” Blue frowned. “Stacy has three boys. What about the other two?”
“Human. And their daddy is not in the picture because he turned out to be an asshole.” Stephanie pointed at Blue. “Explain the ‘tricks’ comment. Del is an Alpha—in title at least. And Jace is an Alpha—it’s what he is for real and should be for the pack. What are you?”
“Magical.” Blue wiggled his fingers.
Stephanie snickered.
Blue pressed a hand to his chest and looked offended. “You wound me. I’m being serious.”
“As annoying as it is, I have to back him up,” Jace offered. “Blue is one of those rare wolves we callOmegas. They slip through the cracks of power and get away with a lot of bullshit.”
“This is backing me up?”
It felt good to poke his cousin. “Blue sometimes knows ahead of time how things will turn out. He still sucks at poker, but if he tells you to jump, he means it.”
Cassidy finished her coffee and put the mug back on the table. “Yesterday, when you decided to shift, that’s because your Omega superpower told you it was the right thing to do.”
Blue nodded.
“Well, that was convenient.” Cassidy tilted her head to Stephanie. “Sounds like maybe Colt’s wild intuition has an explanation.”
Stephanie’s expression tightened. “Maybe. Poor kid.” She bounced a glance between Jace and Blue. “Will he be welcome in the pack? Because it sounds as if that’s something he needs.”
“Absolutely. Pack is all about kids—about family and connection. We fuck up other parts of it at times, but at the core, that’s what a pack does best.”
And Jace was going to do everything he could to make sure all of it worked. Including the area he was still avoiding. The bit about him and Cassidy.
She examined him, suspicion in her eyes. “You really are terrible at full disclosure.”
“It’s been a short time and a lot of information,” he countered.
“So you plan to casually mention I could lead instead of Del and not say anything else? Because that implies at some point, I could be invited to take part in a violent physical challenge, which I’m not really okay with, human frailties and all.”
She was right. That was a terrible place to leave this.
Jace glanced at Blue, who simply lifted his shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. “Your call.”
Great. No help from that quarter. At least Blue wasn’t warning him off.
Only he wasn’t doing this here. Jace wrapped his fingers around Cassidy’s arm and pulled her to her feet. “Come with me.”
She moved with a subtle grace, catching up and marching by his side as they headed through the living room and out the front door.
The morning sunshine was breaking through the trees, and dashes of bright yellow bounced off the rich green grass underfoot. A perfect June day and a perfect moment to examine further.
He came to a stop under the massive white pine at the edge of the forest. The trail they’d run on so many times as children, in both human and wolf form, started at their feet then disappeared into the cool, life-scented woods.
He turned to face Cassidy. Caught her hands in his and pressed her palms to his chest. “Close your eyes.”
One of her brows arched upward, but she followed his instructions.
